Frenchie (rapper)

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Frenchie
Frenchie in 2013
Frenchie in 2013
Background information
Birth nameGreg Hogan
Also known asLil' Frenchie, Frenchie BSM
Born (1985-05-15) May 15, 1985 (age 38)
Queens, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2006–present
Labels
  • Protekted

Greg Hogan (born May 15, 1985), better known by his stage name Frenchie, is an American rapper from Queens, New York. He was in Gucci Mane's 1017 Brick Squad and So Icey Boys and Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad Monopoly. Frenchie is best known for introducing Nicki Minaj and French Montana to Debra Atney's Mizay Entertainment before their mainstream breakouts.[1]

In April 2023, he was sentenced to twelve years in prison after being convicted of burglary charges in Suffolk County.[2]

Early life[edit]

Frenchie was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens.[3] He spent much of his life travelling back and forth between there and Atlanta.[citation needed] His cousin is Southern rapper Waka Flocka Flame.[4] His childhood friend is fellow East Coast rapper Lloyd Banks,[citation needed] and his neighbors included other members who founded G-Unit namely Tony Yayo and 50 Cent.[5][6] According to interviews Frenchie's father Big Frenchie was a notable gangster and drug dealer in borough in the early 1990s who 50 Cent referenced and idolized in his earlier work most notably on 50 Bars and Ghetto Quran.[7][6] Frenchie wanted to become a rapper having been inspired after watching Kris Kross' song "Jump" on Video Music Box at an early age.[8] He is of Guyanese ancestry.[9]

Career[edit]

Frenchie hails from a musical family background with several of his relatives in the industry. His cousin Bimmy was an A&R for Def Jam while his uncle from his father's side DJ Hurricane worked with Beastie Boys.[10] His cousin/aunt[clarification needed] Debra Antney was manager to Gucci Mane and OJ da Juiceman. Frenchie was rapping when he was 19 and would go on to record his first professionally produced track Shirt Off in late 2008.[3] Prior to the record appeared in various street DVDs performing freestyles and cyphers.

2008–2011: So Icey Entertainment, So Icey Boys and 1017 Brick Squad[edit]

During a trip to Atlanta to attend a family reunion Frenchie's aunt Debra Antney had introduced him to Gucci Mane who signed him to his So Icey Entertainment.[11] The song "Shirt Off" from Gucci Mane's The Movie mixtape released in September 2008 which featured Frenchie, Wooh da Kid and OJ da Juiceman as So Icey Boys – would be Frenchie's breakout track becoming a hit on Atlanta radio.[6] Since then he had been managed by Debra Antney's Mizay Entertainment.

Frenchie released his debut mixtape French Connection on February 22, 2009, hosted by DJ Big Mike and Trap-A-Holics.[12] Later in the year his camp would go on to form 1017 Brick Squad. His second mixtape Chicken Room, released on September 15,[13] would be his first under the new imprint. Frenchie would be featured on "Candy Lady" from Gucci Mane's The Burrprint released in October 2009 alongside OJ da Juiceman, Wooh da Kid and Waka Flocka Flame which would be the second and last time 1017 Brick Squad collaborated on one song since Shirt Off the year prior.[11]

According to interviews Frenchie has been the one to introduce Nicki Minaj to Debra Antney who then became her manager,prior to the latter's mainstream breakout.[1] In an interview with DJ Lazy K in December 2009 Frenchie announced plans for an upcoming collaborative tape with French Montana.[14] Although the tape never materialized, French Montana would go on to collaborate with Frenchie and others from 1017 Brick Squad the following year. Frenchie had introduced French Montana to Debra who would sign him later in the year.[1][8] In March 13, 2010, Frenchie's close friend and frequent collaborator G-Baby was shot and killed in Jamaica, Queens.[15][16] The two had collaborated on several tracks off of Frenchie's fifth mixtape Trap To The Future released on March 29,[17] and his sixth mixtape French Connection Part 2 released on July 18.[18]

2011–2014: Brick Squad Monopoly[edit]

Starting in 2011 Frenchie would spend most of his time in Atlanta and touring with 1017 Brick Squad and Mizay Entertainment. That year Waka Flocka Flame would go on to form Brick Squad Monopoly with Frenchie as one of the original members. He released his eighth mixtape Bringing Gangsta Back on June 25[19] and his ninth mixtape Concrete Jungle on October 17.[20] In December 2011, fellow BSM member Slim Dunkin was shot to death during an altercation.[21] In 2012 Frenchie released his tenth mixtape French-Elo Anthony on March 10,[22] and his eleventh mixtape Concrete Jungle 2 on December 17.[23]

On May 21, 2013, he released his twelfth mixtape Long Over Due[24] aptly titled so having felt the need to showcase a solo effort with fewer guest features compared to his previous records.[25] Later that year, Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame would become embroiled in a rather public falling-out, with Frenchie noticeably on the side of his cousin Waka Flocka Flame.[26][27] However, when asked about the incident a year later, Frenchie affirmed that the event was blown out of proportion by the media and they were all currently on good terms.[3][11] In 2013 Frenchie released singles Power Move and Don't Know Em which peaked at Mediabase urban charts at #44 and #89, respectively. He appeared on MTV's RapFix Live on March 27,[28] and on the VH1 show Black Ink Crew which aired on October 7.[29] On December 29, his cousin and fellow BSM member KayO Redd committed suicide.[30] KayO who is Debra's youngest son died from a self-inflicted gunshot.

In 2014 Frenchie released a collaborative mixtape entitled Underrated with D-Dash on January 14,[31] and released his fourteenth mixtape Long Over Due 2 on March 3.[32] It would be his last releases under Brick Squad Monopoly and manager Debra Antney with Frenchie venturing off under his own label later in the year. Having accompanied Waka Flocka Flame, Steve Aoki and Borgore on tour the year before, he also showed a new-found interest in EDM which he expressed plans to pursue in the future.[33]

2014–present: Protekted Records[edit]

On September 9, 2014, Frenchie announced he was joining Protekted Records an independent label he helped found with Karen Fraiberg and Jon Gornbein.[34][35] Under the new management, he would go on to release his fifteenth mixtape on September 16 entitled Fukk Fame.[36] That year, he released the single Ain't Goin Nowhere featuring B.o.B and Chanel West Coast, which peaked at #29 on Mediabase urban charts.[10] In 2015, Frenchie released a collaborative mixtape entitled Phil Jackson with his Artist rapper/producer Jusjoose on November 8.[37] His seventeenth mixtape Chicken Room 2 came out in 2015.

Criminal conviction[edit]

On June 22, 2022, Frenchie was convicted in Suffolk County of burglary for an armed home invasion which occurred in 2021.[38] Frenchie was determined to have been one of seven men, some armed with handguns, who entered the home of a sleeping family because they incorrectly believed there was $100,000 worth of marijuana inside. During the robbery, one of the men pistol-whipped the family's autistic son.[39] On April 6, 2023, Frenchie was sentenced to twelve years in prison for this crime.[2]

Discography[edit]

  • French Connection (2009)[12]
  • Chicken Room (2009)[13]
  • Nightmare On Brick Street (2009)[40]
  • Yellow Brick Road (2010)[41]
  • Trap To The Future (2010)[17]
  • French Connection Part 2 (2010)[18]
  • New Atlanta (2011)[42]
  • Bringing Gangsta Back (2011)[19]
  • Concrete Jungle (2011)[20]
  • French-Elo Anthony (2012)[22]
  • Concrete Jungle 2 (2012)[23]
  • Long Over Due (2013)[24]
  • Underrated (2014)[31] w/ D-Dash
  • Long Over Due 2 (2014)[32]
  • Fukk Fame (2014)[36]
  • Phil Jackson (2015)[37] w/ Jusjoose
  • Chicken Room 2 (2015)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Frenchie at Breakfast Club Power 105.1". The Breakfast Club. July 19, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Rapper Sentenced After Terrorizing Family In LI Home Invasion: DA". Patch.
  3. ^ a b c "Frenchie Talks Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj, The Power Of Prayer & Making Universal Music". AllHipHop. November 26, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  4. ^ Jeffries, David. "Frenchie Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "Frenchie 1017 A Southside Jamaica Queens Story". WorldStarHipHip.com. April 17, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Frenchie BSM Interview w/ BBA Radio". BBA Radio. October 26, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  7. ^ "Frenchie Talks Waka-Gucci beef, 50 Cent rapping about his Father, plus Freestyles". Superstar Radio. July 16, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Frenchie of Brick Squad Monopoly Exclusive French-Elo Anthony Interview". EME. March 9, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  9. ^ "Frenchie BSM Exclusive Interview". Waheeda Sohan. January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Band Stand: Frenchie Interview". Jus 24x7. August 7, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "Frenchie Interview: Brick Squad is Still Together". DJ Boogz. December 9, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Frenchie - French Connection". livemixtapes.com. February 24, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Frenchie - Chicken Room". livemixtapes.com. September 15, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  14. ^ "Frenchie Exclusive Radio Interview DJ Lazy K". PMS Radio. December 21, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  15. ^ "Rapper G Baby Killed". MTV News. March 15, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  16. ^ "Frenchie Speaks About G Baby (RIP Gregory Brown)". D.Hun. March 24, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Frenchie - Trap To The Future". livemixtapes.com. March 29, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Frenchie - French Connection Part 2". livemixtapes.com. July 18, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Frenchie - Bringing Gangsta Back". livemixtapes.com. June 25, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Frenchie - Concrete Jungle". livemixtapes.com. October 17, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Slim Dunkin Killed In Atlanta Music Studio". Rolling Stone. December 17, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Frenchie - French-Elo Anthony". livemixtapes.com. March 10, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Frenchie - Concrete Jungle 2". October 17, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  24. ^ a b "Frenchie - Long Over Due". datpiff.com. May 21, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  25. ^ "Waka Flocka Associate Frenchie Gets Impatient On Long Over Due Mixtape". MTV News. May 22, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  26. ^ "Brick Squad Possibly Over As Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame & More Exchange Fire On Twitter". HipHopDX. September 8, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  27. ^ "Frenchie: Gucci Takes Meds And He Hasn't Been Taking Them!". FreakGeniusTV. October 7, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  28. ^ "ScHoolBoy Q, Frenchie & Uno Freestyle On 'RapFix Live'". MTV RapFix Live. March 27, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  29. ^ "Rapper Frenchie Stops By The Shop". Black Ink Crew. October 7, 2013. Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  30. ^ "Breaking: Waka Flocka Flame's Brother Passes, Frenchie, Debra Antney & More React". SOHH.com. December 30, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  31. ^ a b "Frenchie & D-Dash - Underrated". datpiff.com. January 14, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  32. ^ a b "Frenchie - Long Over Due 2". datpiff.com. March 11, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  33. ^ "Brick Squad Affiliate Frenchie Is Trying to Make 'Electric Dance Trapping' a Thing". VICE.com. May 16, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  34. ^ "1017 Brick Squad Founding Member Leave Brick Squad Launches New Imprint". PRWeb. September 9, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  35. ^ "Brick Squad Monopoly Frenchie Launches New Imprint Protekted Records". XXL. September 14, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  36. ^ a b "Frenchie - Fukk Fame". datpiff.com. September 16, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  37. ^ a b "Frenchie & Jus Joose - Phil Jackson". livemixtapes.com. November 9, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  38. ^ "RAPPER CONVICTED OF THREE COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE BURGLARY". Suffolk County District Attorney.
  39. ^ "Rapper Gregg 'Frenchie' Hogan convicted after Long Island home invasion". Fox 5 New York.
  40. ^ "Frenchie - Nightmare On Brick Street". livemixtapes.com. October 31, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  41. ^ "Frenchie - Yellow Brick Road". livemixtapes.com. February 17, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  42. ^ "Frenchie - New Atlanta". livemixtapes.com. January 7, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2016.

External links[edit]

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